Updates to Approved Document B – Fire Safety
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published their response to the consultation on the statutory guidance to the Building Regulations, regarding fire safety (Approved Document B). This follows their consultation between 5 September and 20 November 2019.
Key amendments
The document outlines amendments to guidance previously published in Approved Document B: Fire safety, Volume 1 – Dwellings and Volume 2 – Buildings other than dwellings, 2019 edition. Updates to Approved Document B include the provision of sprinkler systems and consistent wayfinding signage in new blocks of flats over 11 metres, in order to further improve building safety. These changes will take effect on 26 November 2020, for use in England.
Although there is also strong support for the inclusion of guidance for evacuation alert systems, the MHCLG is still working with the National Fire Chiefs Council on a series of tests of this new technology. Should these tests prove successful, the intention is to include guidance in a later update to Approved Document B.
How the S2 Partnership can help
For further advice or guidance on fire regulation issues, contact our specialist fire safety team. The S2 Partnership has a dedicated team of fire safety experts, providing fire risk assessments, training, guidance, fire engineering and fire safety management systems to a range of organisations to meet legal obligations. The S2 Partnership works with clients to develop robust fire safety solutions, providing the right support to each individual organisation to protect lives, buildings and businesses. For further information, contact us.